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‘What I love about Sweden is they say things straight, which isn’t the case in many other countries’

The Local speaks to Francois Mauraisin, who after an eventful life in France and the UK is now bringing colour to squares across Sweden with his international markets.

Published: 27 March 2017 06:59 CEST
'What I love about Sweden is they say things straight, which isn't the case in many other countries'
Francois Mauraisin runs International Street Markets in Sweden. Photo: Francois Mauraisin

Francois Mauraisin's story has more twists than a Nordic noir novel, and doing it justice isn't a straightforward endeavour. Born in Paris, after finishing school he went to work in London at the UK's first three Michelin star restaurant, starting at the bottom of the ladder in waiting and working his way up.

“I was one of the only ones getting on well with the waiters and the kitchen staff, which is unusual,” he recalls.

A meeting with millionaire nightclub owner Lennie Bloom led him to switch jobs and become a cocktail barman – which included working at the private party for the launch of Pink Floyd's 1982 The Wall. Pretty soon he was running a restaurant, and everything was going well, until…

“The French army called me to do national service! I complained that they were asking me to close my business and put people out in order to join up. They answered straight away by sending me straight to a semi-disciplinary camp in Germany,” he chuckles.

Disruption became opportunity however. Mauraisin was put in charge of catering for the international troops and excelled to the degree he was asked to stay on once his service was over (he politely declined). After leaving, a car crash almost cost him both of his eyes and put him out of action for two years, but thankfully he soon met his wife and went into business supplying clothing for yachts in Cannes. Sir Alex Ferguson for example has him to thank for the clothing worn by his yacht captain at the time.

“We then moved to Paris and I accepted an interview with Groupe Geraud markets. My father had been involved in markets before and they'd always asked me to come in. They were happy and they wanted me to join the company,” he recalls.


Mauraisin in Sweden. Photo: Francois Mauraisin

But what about Sweden, you may ask? Little did the Frenchman know that the decision to get involved in street markets would change the course of his life and eventually result in him moving to the Nordic country.

It's all thanks to him deciding to focus on international street markets. The idea was born when he was running markets in Manchester's Moss Side in the 1990s, an area which was struggling with social problems at the time. Shifting the focus of the markets to a more continental feel brought success, and they eventually spread to other cities in the UK including Glasgow and Aberdeen, the latter of which won an award for best speciality market.

“I was contacted by Gunnar Ericson from Malmö Stad (The City of Malmö). They were looking for something to help the city centre, which was suffering from the establishment of big shopping centres outside town, dragging people away and impacting footfall. They contacted me and asked me to come and do a presentation, which I did.”

“At the end of the presentation they said 'Francois, what do you need?'. 'I need the best,' I replied. 'Ok, you have it!' So I had the best location right away. Then Stockholm said they wanted it at Sergels Torg, and it spread,” he adds.


One of the markets in Linköping. Photo: Francois Mauraisin

Between 2008 and 2012 he ran the International Street Markets across Sweden while still being based in Liverpool. After doing it for almost a decade now, he feels the markets have helped to bring some life back to smaller Swedish towns left behind by urbanization:

“These events we deliver refuel a lot of cities. It can’t be 12 months a year in most areas, but it helps with unemployment. The next step is to develop those squares that are dead most of the time now in Sweden.”

“We also have specific targeted markets, like in Södertälje (a town south of Stockholm with a large Assyrian community) and some areas of Stockholm where we have ethnic markets. They’re like the ones in the suburbs of Paris, where there's a real mix of people. It's fantastic. That’s what I want to achieve here in Sweden as well,” he adds.

The experience of working in Sweden was so positive that eventually Mauraisin pushed to move there permanently in 2012. Initially, his employer had reservations.

“I told my bosses at the time 'I need to go to Sweden'. They weren't convinced and said it wouldn't work. I pushed and they had to accept. They were very happy afterwards,” he laughs.

His theory is that many people in the UK have the wrong image of the Nordic nation:

“When I first told people in the UK we were going to Sweden they thought 'hang on, it's an iceberg up there'. They don't really have a correct image of Sweden and think it's always cold. But I've always been a traveller. I like to mix with different people and nationalities, and I knew Sweden was the only step to grow. I was also very attracted by Scandinavian countries and a bit fed up of living in Liverpool.”


Francois in Luleå, northern Sweden. Photo: Francis Mauraisin

The success of the markets in Sweden suggest the Frenchman was right to push to move. “The first time we did it in Falun, they couldn't believe it,” he reveals. “People jumped on it like crazy. In Lund for example you'll hear customers say 'this week we’re not cooking. We'll have paella one night, langos another'. We focus on details, quality, and give respect to people, smile. That’s why it works.”

It hasn't all been straightforward though. One of the big challenges is not being able to offer card payment because many of the people running stalls at the markets are international traders from outside the country – an annoyance in Sweden, where society is increasingly cash free.

“The main problem is the banks. Because the stalls are foreign traders they can't open bank accounts in Sweden, which means they can't take card, and that's a major problem. Or if we take card, people have to pay a 10-15 kronor charge due to the exchange rate and what the foreign banks take,” he bemoans.

“For the public it's not a major issue though. Sometimes the ATMs empty so we always have to ring ahead to make the banks aware we're coming.”

Another bugbear, though minor, was being targeted by some angry activists on Facebook:

“We've got 13,000 followers and are rated at 4.3 (out of five). We were at 4.7 or 4.8 but had some problems with vegan people in Stockholm, who hammered us with one star ratings!”

“We have vegetarian options on every stall, but they were protesting with pictures of people eating meat. I was really annoyed.”


A market in Luleå. Photo: Francois Mauraisin

The businessman stresses that these are small grievances though, and from the way he speaks about Sweden, it's clear that his view is his adopted home compares positively to the other countries he has lived in.

“What I love about Sweden is they say things straight. Maybe it isn't as easy to make friends, but at least you don't have someone putting an arm on your back one minute, then stabbing you in the back as soon as it can benefit them. You don't find that so much, there's respect. I also think the politicians show that through example, which isn’t the case in the UK, France and many other countries,” he notes.

The Swedish style of education is another thing he admires, something he has had a chance to see at both ends of the spectrum, having some kids in school and others in university.

“In France you need to be able to read by 'x' age, but here in Sweden they say 'no, first they need to be taught to respect each other and grow. And be close to nature'. That's perfect.”

“I have two of my kids, 20 and 21, at uni here too. Once they had done their A levels (secondary school exams), I gave them a kick up the arse, sent one out to Australia with a nice backpack. He toured there for eight months then I called him back as soon as Malmö University agreed to take him. He's learning English literature and Swedish at Malmö university, he’s very very happy.”

“The other did his A levels and we kicked him towards Tahiti in French Polynesia where he attended uni. As soon as he knew he was being taken on by Jönköping University he stopped uni in Tahiti, travelled around all the Polynesian islands, then came back here. A bit of a difference in temperature!”


Linköping, southern Sweden. Photo: Francois Mauraisin

The results of going to university in Sweden have been positive according to the content dad. It has also changed their eating habits (and not yet led to any angry reviews on Facebook that he knows of):

“They were kids before, drinking alcohol, eating too much occasionally. Now they don't drink and they're both vegetarians! Focusing on learning, enjoying it very much, and when they go back to France they stay for three days, see some of their peers and think 'my god, what is this?' and can't wait to come back. It's great.”

Mauraisin has one change he would like to make himself meanwhile: learning the Swedish language. That hasn't happened so far because of how busy he has been with work, he explains, and also because it has in some ways been beneficial to his work with international food not to.

“I'm often on radio and it’s always much better for the kind of international event we do here to have a broken French-English accent, which is a little more exotic. My consultants have told me not to learn. But I think it would be respectful to do so.”

“My daughter was born in Liverpool and was at school there then moved here. She speaks fluent Swedish but never wants to do it in front of us! So if the teacher talks to her and we're there she doesn't answer. It's silly, but she’s totally Swedish. When there's a game on, France against Sweden, she supports Sweden. My little boy who is four doesn't care, he speaks Swedish, and my wife learned it at SFI. So I'm the only one! I'll get there,” he promises.

Along with being determined to learn Swedish, Mauraisin has decided he wants to go one step further and fully commit to becoming a Swede.

“I'll apply for nationality next month. I'll die here!” he emphasizes.

Content with his life in Sweden, his advice for others is to do what both he and his children have done and try new cultures and countries.

“I think if people don't feel that great in their country and don't think they can achieve something, they need to travel. Travelling opens doors. Languages open doors. Meeting people opens doors. That's the best way to do it,” he concludes.

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READER INSIGHTS

How to find a job in Sweden: Five tips from those who’ve been there, done that

The Swedish job market poses unique challenges for newcomers. The Local's readers share their best tips for cracking the career code.

Published: 10 April 2024 11:32 CEST
Updated: 13 April 2024 15:50 CEST
How to find a job in Sweden: Five tips from those who've been there, done that

Network, network, network!

A statistic that often gets tossed around is that seven out of ten jobs in Sweden are obtained through personal connections, and there’s no doubt that a good network is crucial to your job hunt, making the labour market extra challenging for newcomers to the country.

In fact, networking was the main tip mentioned by The Local’s readers.

“The job market is quite hot in Sweden, and talent is in short supply. People hiring do not have a lot of time to find the right talent, and tips from friends, colleagues and former colleagues are the way to first, find out organisations are hiring, and secondly, get your CV on the short list,” said Kyle, a Canadian reader who works in innovation management in Gothenburg.

“If you are going for a major employer like Volvo, network gets you in the door, as HR does not have much to do with hiring… the hiring managers do all of it and have no time, due to the insane number of consensus meetings. If you are looking for smaller organisations, they have even less time to find people, and networking is their primary way to find talent,” he added.

NETWORKING IN SWEDEN:

Some of the networking tips readers mentioned were going to job fairs, getting an internship to help you establish connections in your preferred field, joining clubs (this could be anything from your local gardening association to meetups for coders, but focus on clubs that may be popular among people working in your chosen field), and drawing on your organic network of friends, neighbours and others.

Don’t neglect the groundwork

The saying “dress for the job you want, not the job you have” is getting worn out (and people may look at you funny if you turn up to interviews in a Batman suit), but there’s truth to the notion of making sure you know what you want – and preparing for it.

In other words, don’t wait for a job ad to appear before you start to customise your CV and figure out what skill set you need. Create your CV now so that you’re ready to tweak it to your dream job – you could even have a general look at job ads in your field to see what requirements are needed. And don’t forget to spruce up your LinkedIn profile so that it fits with your career goals.

“I believe that several factors contribute to successfully landing a desirable job in Sweden. It’s essential to prepare to meet the requirements beyond just having a university degree. Many individuals realise these requirements only after completing their studies when they start searching for a job, which can be too late,” said Adnan Aslam from Pakistan, who works as a food inspector.

“I recommend identifying the job advertisements for positions you aspire to hold in the future and then preparing for those requirements during your studies. For me, acquiring a basic level of proficiency in the Swedish language and obtaining a Swedish driving licence were crucial. I pursued these goals during my studies and was able to secure a desirable job before graduating,” he added.

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Felipe Cabral even has a GPT assistant trained on his own CVs and old cover letters, and said the set-up only takes ten minutes if you already have your documents. “With that in place, you can give instructions like: Read this job description and create a tailored version of my CV and letter for it. (…) Remember to always review and ask it not to create data aside from your documents.”

Be flexible and ready to adapt

Moving to a new place inevitably means having to learn not just the practicalities such as how to write a CV or which websites to use to look for job openings, but also learning how to navigate a new culture with all its unspoken expectations.

Swedish workplaces are generally less hierarchical than many other countries, but that doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want whenever you want without anyone raising an eyebrow. Swedes are usually direct, but be careful of being too abrasive or boastful: raising your voice, even during a spirited argument, or banging your own drum to show off your skills may not go down well.

“Talk, deliberate, complain like a Swede and you’ll come across like you know what the job entails, so your trustworthiness increases,” said an Indian data analyst who preferred to remain anonymous.

“Office politics are just as strong in Sweden as anywhere else. The flat hierarchy is deceiving as social hierarchy is enforced quite a bit in that lack of formal hierarchy. Take your time in learning these dynamics wherever you work before revealing your talent and capabilities. Expect those internal politics to happen, and they won’t hurt so much when they do,” said Kyle, the Canadian reader in Gothenburg.

This article about Swedish office politics may be useful.

Stay true to yourself

Adapting to your surroundings is one thing. Completely changing who you are is another.

For one thing, your happiness is as important as your career progression, and for another, your foreignness need not be an impediment: it’s also a skill that sets you apart from the rest. It means you have unique experience, and also, in the right setting, provides an opportunity to sometimes violate those social rules we mentioned above, because people assume you will, anyway.

“Trust is key. Build trust in your network, work with integrity. It’s OK to violate jantelagen if you are maintaining integrity. Sometimes your outsider and more honest/open opinion will burn bridges, especially those that may feel threatened by talent. But it will build trust with other colleagues who see it as brave and more trustworthy to work with,” said Kyle from Canada.

Hunker down for the long haul

We don’t want to scare you, because there are plenty of examples of people who quickly find their dream job in Sweden and settle into their new workplace, enjoying perks such as long summer holidays, generous parental leave and the famous work-life balance.

But if you do find it tougher than you expected: know that you’re not alone.

Several readers who responded to the survey said they were still trying to find a job in Sweden.

“I found jobs all over Europe but not here. They say they have a lack of experienced senior engineers but the don’t seem to be doing much to solve this,” said a Brazilian in Gothenburg.

A reader from Bangladesh said she was “at a loss” as to how to make a career change from her current AI role in Stockholm, despite many years of experience as an IT project manager.

“Over the past 18 months, I’ve submitted over 600 applications to various organisations. Unfortunately, despite being overqualified for some positions, I’ve faced rejections at every turn, from both large and small companies. The job market here, especially for foreign-born women, feels overwhelmingly challenging,” she said, adding that the struggle had impacted her mental health.

The Local has on several occasions reported on foreign residents’ struggle to get a foot on the Swedish job ladder, with many facing hurdles such as employers’ unfamiliarity with international degrees, discrimination, or a lack of network that can provide paths into a company.

So during the job hunt, don’t forget to care for yourself. Share your concerns with fellow job-seekers, ask for help and join networking groups – this is good not just for creating new contacts, but also in terms of your social well-being and meeting people who are in a similar situation.

And finally, as one British reader in Stockholm advised, keep looking: “Be open-minded with the opportunities that present themselves. It isn’t an easy market to enter and doesn’t feel inclusive.” But he added, “don’t give up”.

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